Bustard (quechquemitl)

1950

Quechquemitl consists of two woven 'panels' sewn together to form a garment with an opening for the head and ending in two points, worn on the chest and on the back. Basic fabric is white cotton in linen weave (warp knits). The narrow stripe of wine red wool is woven in the circular weaving technique. The ends of the quechquemitl are decorated with stylised plant motifs (embroidery in different colours of wool). The garment is trimmed along the neckline, along the edges and on the seam with wool in the colors red, green, orange, purple, fuchsia and bougainvillea.\IWJ, Dec. 1950: Instead of calling garment a quechquemitl, call it huipil (!) - of white cotton, embroidered corners, knotted fringe added. Cost $25. Heavy canvas-like weave - around outer edges a woolen narrow stripe in purple in shaped-weave (like San Pablito).